CN115919148A

CN115919148A - Device for emulsifying and/or heating milk

Info

Publication number: CN115919148A
Application number: CN202211223681.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 埃迪·阿尔托; 马泰奥·斯泰卡; 阿里桑德罗·萨尔托尔; 斯特凡诺·福林; 乔瓦尼·罗塞托
Original assignee: De Longhi Appliances SRL
Current assignee: De Longhi Appliances SRL
Priority date: 2021-10-04
Filing date: 2022-10-08
Publication date: 2023-04-07
Also published as: US20230111068A1; IT202100025424A1; CH719025A2; AU2022246386A1; DE102022125360A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for emulsifying and/or heating milk, comprising: a milk heating device (2); hermetically sealing the milk container (3); a mixer (4) provided with a milk inlet (5), an air inlet (6) and an outlet (7) for milk-based drinks; a milk supply circuit comprising a connecting duct (8) between the milk container (3) and the milk inlet (5); and at least one air pump (9) connected in delivery to a pressurization duct (10) of the milk container (3) for pushing pressurized milk towards the milk inlet (5), wherein pressure regulation means of the pressurization duct (10) are included for regulating the temperature of the milk.

Description

Device for emulsifying and/or heating milk

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for emulsifying and/or heating milk, which is suitable for producing milk-based drinks at different temperatures and degrees of air emulsification.

Background

As is known, such devices comprise a mixer that uses a flow of heated steam that is drawn into an air-milk mixing chamber by venturi effect.

In order to adjust the temperature of the drink and the degree of frothing, the ratio of milk and air in the mixture can be changed by changing the width of the milk inlet cross section and/or the air inlet cross section within the mixing chamber.

For example, for the same steam flow and air inlet cross-section, the larger the milk inlet cross-section, the larger the flow rate of the sucked milk, and the lower the temperature and the amount of frothing of the final milk-based beverage.

Furthermore, also in the case of the same flow of steam and milk inlet section, the larger the air inlet section, the higher the degree of frothing of the drink.

Obviously, the main drawback of this solution is that the adjustment of the temperature has a negative effect on the adjustment of the degree of foaming and vice versa.

On the other hand, if the milk and air inlet cross-sections are not modified, only the steam temperature increases with the same steam flow, then the preparation time varies at the same beverage temperature.

Mixing systems that do not employ the venturi effect are known in the art.

For example, a device has been proposed in which milk in a tightly sealed closed container is heated by an electric heater and conveyed to a mixing area with compressed air.

In this case, the compressed air is generated by an air pump that is always running at full speed.

The compressed air fluid has the function of pressurizing the milk container, thereby pushing the heated milk towards the mixing area.

A portion of the compressed air fluid is also drawn in to emulsify the milk drawn from the container.

An emulsifying device of this type is known, for example, from EP 2665396.

However, in this type of device, the temperature cannot be controlled, but only the degree of foaming.

Another example of a pressurized tank for preparing cold blisters is shown in patent US5238155 a.

Disclosure of Invention

The technical task of the present invention is therefore to make a device for emulsifying and/or heating milk that allows to eliminate the drawbacks of the known art.

As part of the technical task, the object of the present invention is to make a device for emulsifying and/or heating milk that allows to independently regulate the temperature and the degree of frothing of a milk-based drink.

Another object of the present invention is to make a device for emulsifying and/or heating milk that allows to regulate a specific temperature of a milk-based drink.

The technical task, as well as other objects, according to the present invention, are achieved by making a device for emulsifying and/or heating milk, comprising: an electronic controller; a milk heating device; sealing the closed milk container; a mixer provided with a milk inlet, an air inlet and an outlet for milk-based beverages; a supply circuit for supplying milk to the milk inlet, wherein the milk supply circuit comprises a connecting duct between the milk container and the milk inlet; and at least one air pump connected in delivery to a pressurization duct of the milk container for pushing pressurized milk towards the milk inlet, characterized in that said device comprises pressure regulation means for regulating the pressure of said pressurization duct, said pressure regulation means being intended to regulate the temperature of the milk.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the milk heating means comprise an inlet for steam entering the mixer and a supply circuit for supplying steam to the steam inlet, wherein the steam supply circuit comprises a water pump, an evaporator for generating steam from water and a conduit for supplying steam to the steam inlet, which conduit is provided with valve means for trapping steam.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said at least one air pump comprises an electric air pump and said pressure regulating means comprises a delivery pressure sensor of said electric air pump connected to said control unit for modulating the power supply of said electric air pump.

Advantageously, the device comprises a conduit for supplying compressed air to the air inlet.

In a first embodiment of the invention, said duct for supplying compressed air to said air inlet is in direct communication with said pressurised duct of the milk container and is provided with valve means for trapping compressed air.

In another embodiment of the invention, said duct for supplying compressed air to said air inlet is separate from said pressurised duct of the milk container and is provided with a dedicated air pump.

In such a case, preferably, a conduit for supplying compressed air to the air inlet is connected to the conduit for supplying steam to the steam inlet, and the steam inlet coincides with the air inlet.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises means for regulating the temperature of the steam.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the steam temperature regulating means comprises a temperature sensor of the steam evaporator.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a milk temperature sensor in the milk container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mixer comprises in cascade a premixing chamber and a mixing chamber, the premixing chamber comprising the air inlet and the steam inlet, and the mixing chamber comprising the milk inlet.

The invention also discloses a method for producing a milk-based beverage, wherein the electronic controller regulates the pressure of the pressurization conduit to regulate the temperature of the milk.

Preferably, the electronic controller regulates the pressure of the pressurization conduit by modulating the delivery pressure of the at least one air pump or by driving the opening and closing of one or more valves having calibrated orifices that may be present along the pressurization conduit.

The invention finally discloses a coffee machine comprising such a device for emulsifying and/or heating milk.

It should be noted that the adjustment of the temperature and the degree of frothing of the milk-based drink can be done completely independently of each other by means of adjusting the mode of operation of the air pump and/or other valve device.

For example, by using the device according to the first preferred embodiment, it is sufficient that the electronic controller only intervenes in the air pump to modify its delivery pressure if only the temperature of the milk-based drink is changed without modifying the settings of the steam circuit. If the delivery pressure of the air pump is increased, the temperature of the milk-based drink is decreased, and vice versa, if the delivery pressure of the air pump is decreased, the temperature of the milk-based drink is increased. Since the supply duct supplying compressed air to the milk container is in direct communication with the supply duct supplying compressed air to the air inlet of the mixer, the ratio between the air and the milk flow entering the mixer does not change and therefore the degree of frothing of the milk-based beverage does not change, but only its temperature. The delivery pressure is monitored by a pressure sensor which provides feedback to an electronic controller which can intervene when a deviation occurs between the detected pressure and the set pressure. Conversely, if, for example, only the degree of frothing of the milk-based drink is changed without modifying the setting of the steam circuit, the electronic controller intervenes in the air valve entrapment means to modify the opening time period of this air valve entrapment means during the delivery cycle. The delivery pressure may be monitored by a pressure sensor that provides feedback to an electronic controller that may intervene when a deviation occurs between the sensed pressure and the set pressure.

Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more fully from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device for emulsifying and/or heating milk according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

fig. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a device for emulsifying and/or heating milk;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the air, milk and steam circuits of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the air, milk and steam circuit of the device for emulsifying and/or heating milk;

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a further embodiment of the air, milk and steam circuit of the device for emulsifying and/or heating milk;

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a further embodiment of the air, milk and steam circuit of the device for emulsifying and/or heating milk;

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a further embodiment of the air, milk and steam circuit of the device for emulsifying and/or heating milk;

fig. 7 shows a block diagram of a further embodiment of the air, milk and steam circuit of the device for emulsifying and/or heating milk.

Detailed Description

In various embodiments, like components will be referred to using like reference numerals.

With reference to the mentioned figures, a device for emulsifying and/or heating milk is shown, generally indicated with reference numeral 1.

The apparatus 1 comprises: an electronic controller 15; a user interface panel 17 provided with controls 16 for manually selecting the temperature and the degree of frothing of the milk-based drink; a device 2 for heating milk; a hermetically closed container 3 of milk; a mixer 4 provided with a milk inlet 5, an air inlet 6 and an outlet 7 for milk-based drinks.

The device 1 further comprises a circuit for supplying air to the air inlet 6 and a circuit for supplying milk to the milk inlet 5.

The milk supply circuit comprises a conduit 8 connecting the milk container 3 to the milk inlet 5.

The conduit 8 is immersed in the milk and extends towards the bottom of the milk container 3.

The container 3 defines an air chamber 29 above the free surface of the milk.

The device 1 further comprises an air pump 9, in particular an electric pump, connected in delivery to the pressurization duct 10 of the milk container 3 for pushing the pressurized milk towards the milk inlet 5.

The pressurization conduit 10 leads to an air chamber 29.

The circuit for supplying air to the air inlet 6 comprises a conduit 11 for supplying compressed air to the air inlet 6.

The milk heating device 2 comprises an inlet 18 for steam entering the mixer 4 and a circuit for supplying steam to the steam inlet 18.

The steam supply circuit comprises a water pump 19, an evaporator 20 for evaporating water and a conduit 21 for supplying steam to the steam inlet 18.

Correspondingly, the conduit 21 for supplying steam to the steam inlet 18 is provided with valve means 22 for trapping steam, for example, but not necessarily, a three-way electromagnetic shut-off valve, which is also connected to the conduit 21 for supplying steam to the expansion chamber 23.

With reference to the solution shown in figures 1 and 2, the duct 11 for supplying compressed air to the air inlet 6 is in direct communication with the pressurized duct 10 of the milk container 3 and is provided with a calibrated hole 32 and with a valve means 12 for trapping the compressed air.

In practice, the conduit 11 for supplying compressed air to the air inlet 6 and the pressurization conduit 10 of the milk container 3 are formed by branches of the delivery conduit 30 of the air pump 9.

A discharge valve 33 is placed along the delivery duct 30 of the air pump 9, which discharge valve is used to discharge the pressure at the dispensing end.

The air shut-off valve device 12 may be formed of a solenoid valve, for example, but not necessarily, a two-way shut-off solenoid valve.

With reference to the solution shown in figures 3, 5 and 6, the conduit 11 for supplying compressed air to the air inlet 6 is separate from the pressurized conduit 10 and is provided with a dedicated air pump 9'.

In this case, the conduit 11 for supplying compressed air to the air inlet 6 is preferably provided with a check valve 34 'and a calibrated hole 32' and connected to the steam supply conduit 21, and the steam inlet 18 coincides with the air inlet 6.

With reference to the solution shown in fig. 3, the pressure sensor 24 'may be connected to the compressed air supply conduit 11 upstream of a check valve 34' which is in communication with the control unit 15. The control unit 15 will modulate the air pumps 9 and 9 'independently based on the feedback received from the pressure sensors 24 and 24' to obtain the temperature of the beverage and the desired degree of frothing.

Advantageously, in all the solutions shown, the device 1 is provided with suitable means for adjusting the pressure of the pressurization duct 10.

Preferably, the air pump 9 is an electric pump and the pressure regulating means comprise a sensor 24 of the delivery pressure of the air pump 9 connected to the control unit 15 for modulating the electric power supply of the electric air pump 9.

Additionally, the pressure regulating means of the pressurization conduit 10 may also comprise a safety valve 31.

The pressure sensor 24 and the safety valve 31 can be installed along the pressurization conduit 10, along the delivery conduit 30 of the air pump 9 or along the conduit 11 supplying compressed air upstream of the calibrated orifice 32.

The device 1 comprises means for regulating the temperature of the steam.

The steam temperature regulating means comprise an evaporator temperature sensor connected to the control unit 15; the evaporator temperature sensor communicates with the control unit to modulate the power supply to the evaporator 20.

The device 1 advantageously comprises a milk temperature sensor 25, which is present in the milk container 3; the milk temperature sensor 25 communicates with the control unit 15 in order to modulate the power supply of the air pump 9 and/or the pump 19 and/or the evaporator 20 and/or the valve means for the entrapped air 12 and/or steam 22.

The mixer 4 comprises a cascade connection of a premixing chamber 4a comprising an air inlet 6 and a steam inlet 18 and a mixing chamber 4b comprising a milk inlet 5.

The mixer 4 may be integrated in a cover 26, which may be removable, for sealingly closing the milk container 3.

The device 1 may be at least partially integrated in a coffee maker 27, the electronic controller 15 preferably being mounted in the coffee maker 27.

In practice, the coffee machine 27 may have a mechanical connection interface, an electrical connection interface, a WiFi connection interface, an optical connection interface, a pneumatic connection interface and a hydraulic connection interface with the milk container 3.

A mechanical connection interface (not shown, of known type) allows the milk container 3 to be fixed in a predetermined manner inside the coffee machine 27.

The electrical connection interface 28 enables all active components installed in the milk container 3 (i.e. all components that require power and data for their operation) to communicate with the electronic controller 15.

The hydraulic connection interface makes it possible to connect the steam supply duct 21 to the water pump 19, which is preferably installed in the coffee machine 27 together with the boiler 20 and the valve means 22 for trapping the steam.

The pneumatic connection interface makes it possible to connect the pressurization duct 10 of the milk container 3 and the duct 11 for supplying air to the mixer 4 to the air pump 9, which is preferably mounted inside the coffee machine 27 together with the pressure sensor 24, the safety valve 31, the calibrated hole 32, the discharge valve 33 and the valve means 12.

Preferably, but not necessarily, all active components except the temperature sensor 25 are mounted in the coffee maker 27 as shown.

With respect to the temperature sensor 25, a solution is shown in which the temperature sensor 25 is immersed in the milk container 3 and communicates with the electronic controller 15 by means of an electrical wire.

Alternatively, a wireless connection of a temperature sensor to the electronic controller 15 may be included.

However, a solution may also be implemented in which an infrared temperature sensor is mounted in the coffee maker 27 in a position facing the milk container 3, for example at a level below the free surface facing the milk.

In such a case, no active components of the device 1 are installed in the milk container 3.

Alternatively, it is also possible to include a temperature sensor mounted in the coffee machine 27 and operating in contact with the metal wall of the milk container 3.

Also in this case, no active components of the device 1 are installed in the milk container 3.

It is therefore clear that all active components communicating with the electronic controller 15 will be installed in the coffee machine 27 as well as in the electronic controller 15 itself.

It is not excluded that, in a solution not shown, the device 1 is structurally and functionally autonomous with respect to the coffee machine.

Nor does it exclude that, in a solution not shown, the electronic controller 15 and other active components are installed in the milk container 3, and that, once the milk container 3 is connected to the coffee machine 27, the electronic controller 15 of the apparatus 1 can communicate with the electronic controller of the coffee machine 27 to coordinate the operation of the apparatus 1.

With reference to the device 1 shown in fig. 1 and 2, the operation of the device 1 is briefly described as follows.

The controller 15 has a default delivery cycle set in the memory, wherein the electric air pump 9, the electric power supply of the pump 19 and the evaporator 20, the on-time period of the means for entrapping air 12 and steam 22 have default settings corresponding to the default temperature Tref of the beverage, the delivery pressure Pref of the air pump 9 and the default frothing degree Gref of the beverage.

The first assumption involves selecting a more heated or less heated milk-based drink relative to the drink available from the execution of the default cycle. If the user selects a warmer beverage, the electronic controller 15 alters the default setting of the power supply to the electric air pump 9 to have a delivery pressure P such that P < Pref, and vice versa, if the user selects a less hot beverage, the electronic controller 15 changes the default power supply setting of the electric air pump 9 to have a delivery pressure P such that P > Pref. The pressure sensor 24 monitors the pressure and continuously transmits the measurement result to the electronic controller 15, so that the electronic controller performs adjustment of the setting of the power supply of the electric air pump 9 in order to reach and adjust the pressure P. The setting of the power supply of the evaporator 20 and the on time period of the air shut-off device 12 are maintained at default values. The variation of the milk flow varies proportionally with the air flow, and since the pressure P of the moving milk is the same as the pressure P of the moving air, the degree of frothing remains constant at the value Gref.

The second assumption involves selecting a hot milk-based drink that is the same as the drink available to perform the default cycle period, but with more or less frothing. If the user selects a drink with a degree of frothing G greater than the default degree of frothing Gref, the electronic controller 15 will increase the on-time period of the means for entrapping air 12 with respect to the default value, and conversely if the user selects a drink with a degree of frothing G less than the default Gref, it will decrease this on-time period until zero is reached in the absence of frothing of milk. The pressure sensor 24 monitors the pressure and continuously transmits the measurement result to the electronic controller 15 so as to perform adjustment of the setting of the power supply to the electric air pump 9 to modulate the pressure Pref.

A third assumption involves selecting a hot milk-based drink that is more heated or less heated and has more live and less frothed relative to the drink that can be obtained from the execution of the default dispensing cycle. In this case, the electronic controller 15 will modify the settings of the power supply of the electric air pump 9, of the on-time period of the means 12 for trapping air and of the power supply of the evaporator 20, in conjunction with the adjustments described in the first and second assumptions.

The most complex assumption is if the user wants a cup of a beverage of a particular temperature, not just a milk-based beverage that is more or less heated relative to the beverage available from the default dispensing cycle.

In this case, the electronic controller 15 needs to know the temperature of the milk in the container 3, which temperature, however, can be obtained by the temperature sensor 25. If the desired temperature of the beverage can be reached by merely modifying the operating mode of the air pump 9, the electronic controller 15 will operate as described above and not intervene in the setting of the steam circuit, otherwise the electronic controller 15 can intervene in the setting of the steam circuit as well or only; for example, if the user selects the maximum selectable temperature of the milk-based drink, the electronic controller 15 may alter the setting of the power supply of the evaporator 20 to have full heating power, and thus the hottest possible steam.

It is not excluded that the steam circuit arrangement also comprises an amount of steam, which can be adjusted by setting the duration of opening of the valve means 22 for trapping steam and/or the start-up period of the pump 19.

A fine adjustment of the temperature of the drink can be obtained by a temperature sensor placed at the outlet 7 of the mixer 4, which can signal in real time to the electronic controller 15 the deviation between the output temperature of the drink and the desired temperature, so that the electronic controller 15 can always make the necessary adjustments in real time, for example by modulating the power supply of the steam evaporator 20 and/or the air pump 9.

The device shown in fig. 3 is also capable of adjusting the quality of air, milk and steam independently of each other. In this case, the air for frothing is injected by an additional pump 9'. The mixture of air and steam can enter the premixing chamber 4a and subsequently combine the milk in the mixing chamber 4b, as shown in fig. 2, or the mixture of air and steam can be directly combined with the milk in the mixing chamber 4b, which would make the premixing chamber 4a superfluous, as shown in fig. 3. The air may be injected into the steam downstream of the valve-trap device 22, as shown, or upstream between the water pump 19 and the evaporator 20.

Furthermore, air, steam and milk can be injected completely independently into the mixing chamber 4b, in which case the

inlets

5, 6 and 18 will all converge in said mixing chamber 4 b.

If the air pump 9' is activated, air is injected into the steam and the resulting beverage is frothed, otherwise the beverage is not frothed. In order to reach the same level of frothing at different temperatures of the dispensed drink, it is necessary to regulate the air dispensed by the additional pump 9': the electronic controller 15 knows the pressure in the milk container 3 and thus the flow rate of the milk entering the mixer 4 by means of the pressure sensor 24, and can thus adjust the additional pump 9' and ultimately the amount of air dispensed. In order to modulate the degree of frothing, the electronic controller 15 may alter the on and off times of the additional pump 9 'or may alter the power supply of the additional pump, if the additional pump 9' itself is an electric pump.

The device for emulsifying and/or heating milk as conceived herein is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all the details may be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

For example, as shown in the embodiments of fig. 4, 5 and 6,

more air pumps

9,9 "may be included for pressurizing the milk container 3.

In particular, two

air pumps

9,9 "arranged in parallel may be included.

Preferably, each

air pump

9,9 "has a respective check valve 34 upstream of the junction 35 of the respective delivery conduit.

If the pumps are identical, one of the

air pumps

9,9 "may be activated and modulated when it is desired to prepare warmer milk, which is required to produce a smaller milk flow to the mixer 4, whereas both

air pumps

9,9" may be activated and modulated when it is desired to produce cooler milk, which is required to produce a larger milk flow to the mixer 4. In both cases, the control unit 15 modulates each

active air pump

9,9 "based on feedback received from the pressure sensor 24.

It is also possible to include two

different air pumps

9,9", in particular air pumps having different nominal capacities and being selectively activatable. In such a case, the two

different air pumps

9,9 "can also be activated by a special system combination that prevents them from interfering with each other, in order to broaden the performance range in terms of the dispensed air flow.

With such a solution with

multiple air pumps

9,9", a finer adjustment of the temperature of the dispensed milk is possible.

The solution shown in fig. 4 corresponds to the solution shown in fig. 2.

The solution shown in fig. 5 differs from the solution shown in fig. 3, from a solution comprising a plurality of

air pumps

9,9", and from a solution not comprising a pressure sensor 24 'downstream of the air pump 9'.

In the solution shown in fig. 5, the control of the air pump 9' is granted to the control unit 15 according to preset values in the control unit 15, which are selected on the basis of feedback received only from the pressure sensor 24.

The solution shown in fig. 6 differs from the solution shown in fig. 5 in that the pressure sensor 24 is replaced by one or more valves with calibrated orifices 36, positioned along the pressurization conduit 30 and configured to create a bypass or controlled loss of load to the outside when activated, in order to set the pressure in the pressurization conduit 10 at a predetermined value.

In this solution, shown in figure 6, the

air pumps

9,9 "are not modulated, but managed by the control unit 15, so that, in combination with the management of the valve means with calibrated holes 36, the electronic controller 15 can ensure that a sufficient pressure is obtained to obtain the desired temperature of the drink and the degree of frothing.

The solution shown in fig. 7 differs from the one shown in fig. 2 due to the fact that the pressure sensor 24 is replaced by one or more valves with calibrated holes 36, positioned along the pressurization conduit 30 and configured to produce, upon activation, a bypass or controlled load loss towards the outside, in order to set the pressure in the pressurization conduit 10 at a predetermined value.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

Claims

1. Device (1) for emulsifying and/or heating milk, comprising: an electronic controller (15); a milk heating device (2); a hermetically closed milk container (3); a mixer (4) provided with a milk inlet (5), an air inlet (6) and an outlet (7) for milk-based drinks; a supply circuit for supplying milk to the milk inlet (5), wherein the milk supply circuit comprises a connecting duct (8) between the milk container (3) and the milk inlet (5); and at least one air pump (9) connected in delivery to a pressurization duct (10) of the milk container (3) for pushing pressurized milk towards the milk inlet (5), characterized in that said device comprises pressure regulating means for regulating the pressure of said pressurization duct (10) for regulating the temperature of said milk.

2. Device (1) for emulsifying and/or heating milk according to claim 1, characterized in that said milk heating means (2) comprise a steam inlet (18) into said mixer (4) and a supply circuit for supplying steam to said steam inlet (18), wherein said steam supply circuit comprises a water pump (19), an evaporator (20) for generating steam from water and a duct (21) for supplying steam to said steam inlet (18), said duct steam supply circuit being provided with valve means (22) for trapping steam.

3. Device (1) for emulsifying and/or heating milk according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said air pump (9) is an electric air pump and in that said pressure regulating means of said pressurized duct (10) comprise a delivery pressure sensor (24) of said electric air pump (9) connected to said electronic controller (15).

4. Device (1) for emulsifying and/or heating milk according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said pressure regulating means of said pressurised conduit (10) comprise one or more valves with calibrated holes (36) located along said pressurised conduit (30) and configured to create, when activated, a bypass towards the outside or a controlled loss of load, in order to set the pressure in said pressurised conduit (10) at a predetermined value.

5. Device (1) for emulsifying and/or heating milk according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a duct (11) for supplying compressed air to said air inlet (6).

6. Device (1) for emulsifying and/or heating milk according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said duct (11) for supplying compressed air to said air inlet (6) is in direct communication with said pressurized duct (10) and is provided with calibrated holes (32) and valve means (12) for intercepting said compressed air.

7. Device (1) for emulsifying and/or heating milk according to claim 5, characterized in that said duct (11) for supplying compressed air to said air inlet (6) is separate from said pressurized duct (10) and is provided with a dedicated air pump (9').

8. Device (1) for emulsifying and/or heating milk according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said duct (11) for supplying compressed air to said air inlet (6) is connected to said duct (21) for supplying steam to said steam inlet (18), and in that said steam inlet (18) coincides with said air inlet (6).

9. Device (1) for emulsifying and/or heating milk according to any one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that said duct (11) for supplying compressed air to said air inlet (6) has a pressure sensor (24').

10. Device (1) for emulsifying and/or heating milk according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a milk temperature sensor (25) in the milk container (3).

11. Device (1) for emulsifying and/or heating milk according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that along the delivery duct (30) of the air pump (9) there is a discharge valve (33) for discharging the pressure after dispensing and in that the pressure regulating means of the pressurization duct (10) comprise a safety valve (31).

12. Device (1) for emulsifying and/or heating milk according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises various air pumps (9,9 ") for pressurizing the milk container (3).

13. A method for producing a milk-based drink using the device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic controller (15) adjusts the pressure of said pressurization duct (10) to adjust the temperature of said milk.

14. Method for producing a milk-based drink according to the preceding claim, wherein the electronic controller (15) regulates the pressure of the pressurization conduit (10) by modulating the delivery pressure of the at least one air pump (9).

15. Method for producing a milk-based drink using a device according to claim 13, wherein said electronic controller (15) regulates the pressure of said pressurized conduit (10) by driving the opening and closing of said one or more valves with calibrated orifices (36).